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Friday, September 1, 2017

I've wanted to do a "photo" day finding all the colors of the rainbow (ROY B GIV) Some colors were easy-easy, others...not so much. All the pictures were taken either on our farm or along the route that we are traveling almost daily to take the boy to "Real School".

And if that wasn't fun enough...in the evening as I was getting ready to upload the pictures, a storm came through and from our back yard we had a full rainbow!! From end to end!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

In 2017, Wallace Homestead/Cackleberry Hollow will offer a 20 week C.S.A. season, which will begin the week of June 6th and will run through the October. We are also looking at a "post season" C.S.A. offering to run weekly in November and December, until Christmas.

The number of shares will be VERY limited. We will only be taking 3-4 family shares and 2 individual shares.

Individual Share ($265)--The individual share is designed for an individual or a family of two and will include approximately $17-$20 worth of fresh, seasonal local produce each week.

Family Share ($425)--The standard share is designed for families of three or more, and will include approximately $28-$30 of fresh, seasonal local produce each week.

The dollar value examples for the weekly shares are simply meant to give you a rough idea of how much produce you get. During times of bounty in the season the shares are considerably larger than these estimates. However, in farming there are risks, and inevitably there will be a very few slim weeks. I am confident that you will find at the end of the season that your share was money well spent.

There are also planned events for the CSA/Herdshare members including an “on the farm” open house day, possible “U-Pick” opportunities, and a “really LOCAL” craft / produce market in the fall. You are always encouraged to come be a part of the farm and spend some time working in the sun and the dirt!

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

I'm sick and tired or being sick an tired!! you too? I hear ya! I made it the whole winter, only to get sidelined on the second day of spring!

I am on my third week now of being sick. It started as a cold with a cough that wouldn't go away. I started to feel better, worked extra hard around the farm for just one nice day, and bam! strep throat! So now I'm on antibiotics A few more days and I'll be done with that.

Meanwhile, even though I haven't had much as far as colds/flus go through the winter...my TN has been a bear. I try not to say much about it. It's like a toddler misbehaving for attention, if you don't acknowledge the bad behavior and "reward" it, it'll go away...right? Right?!? OK, so maybe I'm somewhat delusional. HA!

Today I have re-read many of the articles I had saved to my computer about using a Raw Milk Fast to bring about better health. I read them a few years ago and was so impressed then that I added doing a raw milk fast to my 101 in 1001 list.

The most informative of them was an article called the "Milk Cure" it tells of two doctors that ran a sanatorium around the 1905 and the amazing results from so many different diseases and ailments just by having their patients only drinking raw milk. https://www.realmilk.com/health/milk-cure/

Raw unpasteurized milk is a whole food with all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes that the body needs. Many of those same vitamins, minerals and enzymes are either destroyed or compromised so that the body can't absorb it. Raw milk is high in antioxidants, vitamins (including B-12), all 22 essential amino acids, natural enzymes (including lactase), natural probiotics, and good fatty acids.

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I'm amazed to read (but not too much cause we have an AWESOME all-knowing God!) how the vitamins we need have to have certain minerals in order to be absorbed, and TA-DA! Raw milk has exactly the right amount of each to make it the perfect food!

Back to 1905 doctors, they used the raw milk cure for everything from tuberculosis, the high blood pressure and renal failure to NERVOUS SYSTEM Disorders. Also there is a mention of numerous patience with failure of the thyroid having function completely resolved! (you should really read this article https://www.realmilk.com/health/milk-cure/ and see all the different ailments they addressed!)

The doctor even made an interesting point about milk is equal to "sweet sound blood" that the only difference is the color in the restorative properties.

I found another blog post about a lady with Lyme's disease that tried it, and though she is not cured of Lyme's, has had many of her secondary infections addressed.

Now, I have had many "cures" suggested to me for my TN. And have tried or at least considered most of them. Many folks swear by essential oils. Others with diet. Salt caves. Moving to Arizona...etc. And I have used the heavy duty drugs to find relief as well (much more often than I like!) Recently I have found myself actually considering the brain surgery that has about a 50% success rate.

I am in the perfect position to try this. I milk my two Jersey cows every morning. They are over producing so I have extra milk just hanging out in my fridge....I've tried most everything else. So...As I finish my antibiotics, I am going to embark on this for a month and see if it helps. It sure can't hurt!!

I've had various folks close to me express dismay and trepidation of me doing this. (Not my hubby tho..) The unknown is scary! It may be a "waste of time" but I won't know if I don't try. And if I find that it works for me, what a huge blessing!

What might be my stumbling blocks....1/ I am totally addicted to caffeine in the form of my favorite diet soda pop, so not having that may be tough. 2/ I love cooking (and eating!) 3/ I love the stuff my guys cook too! (Hello, homemade beef sticks and home cured Canadian Bacon...not to mention RIBS!! Plus, my boy has made dinner every night this past week!)

HOWEVER, I'm not giving up food forever...I'm not doing this on a whim, really. I want to see if it will help my TN. And the other health issues that have been creeping up as I age could be arrested as well-They've seen good results with insulin resistance!

THEREFORE, as scary as it is to put this out there...I am going to do the month milk fast. With only a few modifications. They recommend bed rest...I unfortunately can't do that as I need to milk the cows to get the raw milk!

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Thursday, February 23, 2017

One of my 101 goals is to FINALLY get my Faithbooking concordance put together in a form that can be published. In "getting ready" to do that, I went to a blog that I used to get inspiration from frequently back when I was originally putting the concordance together back in 2004 (yes, that's right, it's been on my list for ahem 13 years).

I read her "recent" posts and became re involved in her life only to realize that she hasn't posted since 2013 and I'm again lost in wondering where this person went. And what they are up to, and no, I don't know her personally. Her blog led me to another of a family whose husband was fighting cancer and oddly enough ended up they were right here in our city. Only to see that the last post was in 2009 and the 3 year old that I was praying for would now be 14. (No I don't know them either)

And it made me wonder, does anyone read our little farm blog and then wonder why I disappear for months at a time. Or could I just stop and that would be fine because my handful of readers "know me" either through facebook, or In Real Life? Should I keep telling my silly little stories for some person that might run across my blog in 8 years because they are curious about cows and craziness??

And I feel a bit convicted, that maybe I'm letting someone down by not being "here"

So here's where I've been:

My TN has been in an awful flare period and I've been "playing" with various medicines trying to get it to give me a break without turning me into a zombie (So far, haven't found the right combo)

enjoying the beautiful "spring" we are having this winter and wondering when the 3 feet of snow will hit: April or May??

Trying to decide if I want to do spring festivals with my jam.

Making jam from the last of the reserve berries in my freezers and counting the days until the bushes will be full again.

I have actually been scrapbooking again!! I went to a one day crop and did 7 pages and to a weekend one with my cousin in PA and finished 70 pages!!

I got a fitbit from my mom for my birthday and have been playing with my "steps"

Thursday, January 5, 2017

I know I am biased....but this face! He looks more and more like his Daddy,

and is such a handsome young man!

After our visit to the tv station in November, we went to place Christmas wreaths on my grandparents' and sister's graves. While at the cemetery, they closes the exit that I usually go out and we became lost in one of our city's largest and oldest cemeteries! As we drove around, we saw this old ornate bridge and had to stop and get some pictures!

I'm SO glad we got lost and took the time to not be stresses out but to take the time!

My little boy is not so little. And my goodness, he is so handsome. Someday soon I will have to share him with some VERY lucky young lady, but for now....

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

After spending hours combing through the 101 list with Colie during our Christmas visit I have tried to come up with a plan to finish off our "101 in 1001" strong. So here's the plan:

I need to blog consistently and that means every day and even on more than one blog so be looking for more blog posts. Wallace Homestead and also be sure to check out scrap-tastrophe Studio for at least one blog post a week.

I will be working on the Concordance so that it is ready by July oops August, okay by the festival.

We're going to have classes on the homestead and Faithbooking classes and crops on a monthly basis the schedule will be posted soon., the crops and the faith booking information will be posted on the scrap-tastrophe Studio blog.

And getting finances under control we're doing a month of nothing for January, March and June.

To get more readers over here to Wallace Homestead I'll be participating in a blog hop almost every week this year.

Other crafts are going to be worked on including Milly, my scarf and a new craft to be added to the Fall Festival!

As you know I am trying to get done lots of challenges this year. One of them is the 52 Week challenge that I am doing with some friends on Facebook.

The first week's challenge is countertops and the sink in the kitchen. I took on the challenge today and got it all done in one day mainly because I have lots of other challenges to get done this week. As I cleaned and scrubbed and moved things around to get the dust off, I thought "why do I have so many knick knacks?" As I picked up each one I thought about who gave them to me. I guess I'm sentimental. I can tell you who gave me each thing in my window, on top of my refrigerator, and on my walls. So each item got lovingly dusted and put it back.

I did manage to find three things to send to Goodwill. I filled up half of a trash bag. The pictures before and after may not seem like much of a change however I feel really good about today's work.

Here is the sink stove and counters.

And this is the other set of counters by the refrigerator I did also clean on top of the refrigerator and all the junk that was on it with magnets, including all the menus which I put in a folder with my cookbooks for the subliminal message not to order out!!

Monday, January 2, 2017

Just like last year we are doing a "Month-of-Nothing" otherwise known as a no-spend month to give the bank account a break after all the spending of December. It's hard because I LIKE to shop! And January is such a dreary month!

Here is a recap from last year's post...

If you've been reading here long, you know that at least twice a year, I attempt a Month-of-Nothing. In fact, it is actually part of my 101 in 1001 goals. I'm at about 50% half the time I do a great job, the other half...not-so-much.

After the "spending" of November (I am a big fan of Black Friday) and December, it's time to have a "Fiscal Fast" for January.

Want to join me?

Leave a comment, so I can be an encouragement.

Fiscal Fast requires you to not only stop shopping, but mainly, use what you have for 31 days.

Here's the "rules"

– For 31 days, Don't buy anything . If it isn’t food or medicine, you don’t buy it. And as far as food goes, we make our food budget (for the 3 of us) $100 or less. For the MONTH ($25 a week)

Go through the freezer, use up the cans of veggies, the dried pasta and the non-perishables that are collecting dust and doomed to expire. You can still spend money on fresh fruits and veggies, but ONLY if they are needed to complete a recipe with existing foods that you find in the cupboard. Food this month is focused on using up, not creating magazine worthy meals but that’s OK- it’s just a month and you’re using up those random cans and boxes you would have wasted otherwise.

We also greatly reduce our auto fuel budget during the month-of-nothing, so we reduce trips and combine trip. Honestly, most of my "excess" driving is to go to the grocery just because I'm "bored" and like wandering the grocery store! And knowing that we live "OUT" it is too many extra miles!

– For 31 days, you should declutter, donate and reuse.

Instead of going out to shop, focus on making space in your life. Donate what you don’t use, fix what you can, or pitch it. Go through your closets and shelves..

– For 31 days, you should make do with whatever you have in the house.

Use up those travels soaps and shampoos that are sitting around. What can you bake from scratch? Use the stuff you received for Christmas instead of saving it for "good".

– For 31 days, you will focus on finishing those annoying unfinished projects.

Your half finished scrapbook will finally get done. That empty recipe book should finally get filled. Fill up the free time you’d normally spend on shopping, spending money out or entertaining yourself with things that need to get DONE. (and that's a whole 'nother goal list and chart :) )

– Before A "Month-of-Nothing" do NOT Stockpile.

As much as it seems like you should stock up to "get ready" to go a month without shopping, don't. You are going 31 days without shopping in order to make do with what you have, reduce waste, make it last or, alas- go without.

If 31 days sounds too hard- start with 7 days. One week of NO shopping...not even groceries (except the truly essential perishables or medicine.) You have a small budget for that.